Universiteit Utrecht
EU governance & public
accountability
A research agenda
Mark Bovens, Deirdre Curtin and Marianne van
de Steeg
Utrecht School of Governance
Universiteit Utrecht
Background
- Shift national -> EU policy making
- Debate on democratic deficit
- Focus on public accountability
- Concern: no corresponding shifts in accountability regimes
- Aim: to empirically investigate to what degree the rise of EUgovernance has been matched by correspondent changes in
public accountability regimes and practices
Universiteit Utrecht
What is accountability?
Working definition for this research project
1. A relationship between an actor and a forum
2. In which the actor has an obligation
3. To explain and justify
4. His conduct
5. The forum can pose additional questions
6. Pass judgement
7. And the actor can be sanctioned
Universiteit Utrecht
Accountability
Accountability and Transparency
- Transparency pre-condition for accountability
Accountability and Responsiveness
-> justification of conduct
Universiteit Utrecht
Three research questions
1. Formal and informal structures and actual practices of
(public) accountability
2. How can the accountability arrangement be assessed
from a democratic, constitutional and learning
perspective?
3. Does EU multi-level governance create specific
problems?
Universiteit Utrecht
EU-Governance
- Commission accountable to European Parliament
- In relation to which institutions is research into
accountability most relevant?
-Council
-Committees
-Agencies
Universiteit Utrecht
EU-Council: accounting for summits
- Major policy arena
- No (political) accountability on EU-level
Research questions
Descriptive
1. Are leaders held accountable on national level?
2. Emergent practices?
Evaluative
3. Democratic, constitutional and
learning perspective
Universiteit Utrecht
EU-Council: accounting for summits
Research design
1.
2.
3.
Accountability for institution building (Maastricht;
Amsterdam; Nice; Dublin)
Accountability for crisismanagement (Bosnia; BSE,
Austria; 9/11)
Country selection:
Best practices
Variation parliamentary systems
Variation attitude towards EU
UK, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland
Universiteit Utrecht
Committees: Accounting for expert input
-
Major role of experts in EU-policy making
-
Technocracy
Democracy
-
Professional
Public accountability
-
Transparency
Universiteit Utrecht
Committees: Accounting for expert input
Research questions
Descriptive
1.
Public accountability of expert input?
2.
Emergent practices?
3.
Level of transparency?
Evaluative
4. Democratic, constitutional and learning perspective
Research design
-Mapping expert venues & accountability regimes
-In depth analysis of selected arena’s
Universiteit Utrecht
Agencies: Accounting for non-majoritarian
Institutions
-
Increase in number & range
-
Very limited political accountability
-
Innovative diagonal & horizontal practices
Universiteit Utrecht
Accounting for agencies
EU Parliament
National Parliaments
Commission
Council
Court of Justice
Court of Auditors
Stakeholders
Agencies
Universiteit Utrecht
Agencies: Accounting for non-majoritarian
Institutions
Research questions
Descriptive
1.
(Emergent) accountability arrangements?
Evaluative
2. Democratic, constitutional and learning perspective
Research design
-Mapping agencies & arrangements
-In depth analysis selected cases
Institutional perspective
Assessment of adequacy of detected accountability arrangements
What kind of polity is the EU?
• Sui generis
• Intergovernmental
• Federal or confederal
• Other?